Absorbent pad

An absorbent pad useful in a food package to separate and maintain the exuded liquids from the food product to thereby minimize contamination of the food product, or as a device for moisturizing a closed food container or package, and comprising

• a mat of liquid absorbent material comprising a layer of paper wadding and a layer of wood fluff, said layers of paper wadding and wood fluff being mechanically interconnected to maintain the relative positioning thereof and the integrity of the wood fluff,
• a first sheet of liquid impermeable plastic material overlying and covering one side of said mat of liquid absorbent material, and
• a second sheet of plastic material overlying and covering the other side of said mat of liquid absorbent material, the peripheral edges of said first and second sheets being sealed together to enclose said mat therebetween, and with said second sheet only having a plurality of openings spaced over substantially the full area thereof and which permit passage of a liquid into said mat so as to be retained thereby, and wherein a layer of paper wadding is positioned immediately adjacent said second sheet, whereby said paper wadding acts to prevent dust from said wood fluff from passing outwardly through said openings.